'Psychopathic' Doctor Accused of Killing Patients

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Newser)  An allegedly psychopathic doctor who tried to kill his own patients may finally lose his job in Australia after four years of complaints, the Courier & Mail reports. The doctor, whose name hasn't been released, killed at least two elderly patients by unplugging them in a hospital and had to be physically restrained from killing more, according to testimony before a government crimes commission. "It was really horrifying," a doctor said. "He was prepared to kill people if it saved his authority from being questioned."

The doctor was trying to cover up his incompetence and "might kill you if he took a dislike to something you did or said," the commission heard. "Lots more patients would have died if the doctors had not gone around and turned them back on," whistleblower Jo Barber said. "The doctors were not interviewed by police, even though there was compelling evidence of unlawful killings." Health Minister Lawrence Springborg yesterday called for the doctor to be deregistered.&#39sychopathic&#39; Doctor Accused of Killing Patients - Australian doctor allegedly had to be restrained

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THREE doctors told investigators they had to patrol a Gold Coast hospital, turning on life support systems after a rogue specialist switched them off to speed up the deaths of several elderly patients.

"Lots more patients would have died if the doctors had not gone around and turned them back on," whistleblower Jo Barber said yesterday.

"The doctors were not interviewed by police, even though there was compelling evidence of unlawful killings."

Ms Barber, a former police officer, took statements from the doctors four years ago in her role as chief investigator at the Medical Board of Queensland.

She said: "As the interviews continued I kept reporting more and more explosive allegations of deliberate harm to patients.

"But I was told repeatedly the medical board handled matters in-house, and there was no need to go to the police."

The rogue doctor was described by a colleague as a psychopath in a recording now in possession of the CMC.

Ms Barber said she was astounded the doctor did not lose his registration even though the medical board put restrictions on his work, including banning him from working in intensive care units.

The board's functions were taken over by the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency, a federal body, in 2010.

Ms Barber was the board's representative on the Health Quality and Complaints Commission and is now employed by Queensland Health's ethical standards unit.

She has accused all the watchdog agencies of failing in their duty to protect patients.

Retired judge Richard Chesterman, QC, and the CMC's Inspector Cameron Byram are examining serious allegations against doctors on the Gold Coast and at Brisbane, Townsville, Toowoomba, Bundaberg and Hervey Bay.

Although she is co-operating with the CMC, Ms Barber said she was concerned it was not moving quickly enough.

She said the CMC failed in its oversight of the other agencies when she first sounded the alarm.

She has given the CMC the names of 18 doctors she says maimed and killed patients.

Many of the doctors are recklessly incompetent and still practising, she said.

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A RETIRED judge will investigate claims by a Queensland Health whistleblower of years of cover-ups of dodgy doctors who have killed patients on the Gold Coast and across the state.

Former Queensland Medical Board investigator Jo Barber says she has evidence of malpractice and manslaughter that was ignored, whitewashed or not investigated properly during her time in the role.

She claims a senior doctor at a private Gold Coast hospital caused the premature death of an elderly patient by turning off her oxygen, despite the family and the patient asking for a few more days to come to terms with her terminal illness.

Ms Barber says when a junior doctor came forward about the incident it was not investigated properly and the hospital refused to release records.

She also lists other Gold Coast doctors who were allowed to continue practising despite complaints being raised.

The whistleblower, who later worked in the ethical standards section at Queensland Health, says she also has evidence of doctors with alcohol or drug addictions or medical problems that meant their work was compromised.

The Crime and Misconduct Commission yesterday said it had asked retired judge Richard Chesterman to look into the claims to see if a formal investigation were warranted.

This followed the new CMC chairman Ross Martin meeting Ms Barber on Monday.

Mr Martin said the meeting was held to help allay whatever concerns Ms Barber had about the handling of her information, and to establish a framework for investigation.

"I understand that whistleblowers can sometimes be mistrustful," he said. "This is not yet at the stage of investigation.

"Rather, Mr Chesterman will, with assistance, determine the detail of what the potential whistleblower can say, prioritise the many potential issues raised and provide a framework for any further examination."

MIA

A RETIRED judge will investigate claims by a Queensland Health whistleblower of years of cover-ups of dodgy doctors who have killed patients on the Gold Coast and across the state.

Former Queensland Medical Board investigator Jo Barber says she has evidence of malpractice and manslaughter that was ignored, whitewashed or not investigated properly during her time in the role.

She claims a senior doctor at a private Gold Coast hospital caused the premature death of an elderly patient by turning off her oxygen, despite the family and the patient asking for a few more days to come to terms with her terminal illness.

Ms Barber says when a junior doctor came forward about the incident it was not investigated properly and the hospital refused to release records.

She also lists other Gold Coast doctors who were allowed to continue practising despite complaints being raised.

The whistleblower, who later worked in the ethical standards section at Queensland Health, says she also has evidence of doctors with alcohol or drug addictions or medical problems that meant their work was compromised.

The Crime and Misconduct Commission yesterday said it had asked retired judge Richard Chesterman to look into the claims to see if a formal investigation were warranted.

This followed the new CMC chairman Ross Martin meeting Ms Barber on Monday.

Mr Martin said the meeting was held to help allay whatever concerns Ms Barber had about the handling of her information, and to establish a framework for investigation.

"I understand that whistleblowers can sometimes be mistrustful," he said. "This is not yet at the stage of investigation.

"Rather, Mr Chesterman will, with assistance, determine the detail of what the potential whistleblower can say, prioritise the many potential issues raised and provide a framework for any further examination."